Pot Control in poker Navigating pot control can be complex, requiring careful consideration. This is because the concept often leads players to make less than ideal choices. If we were to identify key factors that contribute to inexperienced players losing their money more rapidly, pot control would undoubtedly be one of those elements.
Perhaps it would be wiser to entirely disregard the idea of pot control. A far more crucial concept to prioritize is the aggressive tactic of preventing opponents from realizing their potential advantages. equity This essential principle of poker stands in contrast to the notion of pot control.
Let’s clarify what is generally meant by Pot Control. We will explore cases in which we absolutely shouldn't use pot control, as well as scenarios when it is appropriate to do so.
What Is Pot Control in Poker?
Essentially, pot control involves either checking or making minimal bets to maintain the pot at a size that is manageable .
If we have been following the flow of this article, it becomes apparent that pot control might not be the most practical concept. It emerged during a time when many players were quite poor in their understanding of the game.
In the past, discussions about pot control were quite prevalent in the context of poker, but nowadays, they are becoming less common. Who knows, perhaps in another decade, future skilled players will look back and chuckle at the very mention of pot control. poker hands When to Steer Clear of Pot Control in Poker
Let’s examine a typical scenario from a decade ago in which the average player would have resorted to pot control. We'll discuss why this approach was justified back then, as well as why it’s considered detrimental today.
UTG folds, MP folds, CO folds, and Hero makes a standard raise to 3bb. SB folds, while BB makes the call.
6 handed, NLHE
UTG (100bb)
MP (100bb)
CO (100bb)
BTN (100bb) Hero
SB (100bb)
BB (100bb)
Hero is dealt KhKs
What a challenging turn of events for us—our opponent could be holding any number of strong combinations. We are now in a situation where we could potentially be beaten.
Flop (6.5bb)
Jc7c 2h
BB checks. Hero bets 5bb. BB calls.
Turn (16.5bb)
8c
BB checks. Hero?
A player from the past might instinctively shift to a defensive stance, opting to keep the pot small by checking. This would allow them to make river decisions within a more comfortable environment. straights got there, some flushes , some 2 pair However, this thought process is flawed, despite appearing reasonable. A more modern player understands that checking the turn is a significant error, and there are many reasons supporting this idea.
Value can still be extracted from weaker hands, such as Jx, as well as potential straight and flush draws.
By betting, we can eliminate our opponent’s equity from their weaker hands.
- Moreover, betting affords us the opportunity to secure a free showdown. If we make a bet on the turn and our opponent decides to call, we position ourselves well for the river.
- There’s no need to worry about the potential for a check-raise. Should that happen, it indicates we're at a disadvantage, and folding would be the correct action.
- Our opponent may have developed a one-card flush draw. By checking, we grant them a free 20% equity boost. check /calls, they will likely check the river to us OOP.
- If we check, we run the risk that an unfavorable card may appear on the river, jeopardizing any chance to extract further value.
- Additionally, checking allows our opponent the opportunity to bluff us, especially if undesirable cards appear on the river.
- A turn check signals weakness, potentially encouraging more bluff attempts from our opponent. By actively continuing with the game, we really just begin to scratch the surface of understanding.
- What we care most about is the comparison between the expected value of betting versus what we can anticipate from checking. As long as betting yields a higher EV (which it often does), that should be our chosen route. The points above illustrate why betting is the better option.
- We represent It’s somewhat paradoxical to think about controlling the size of the pot. If we check back on the turn, our opponent can still go all-in on the river. Can we genuinely claim to exert 'control' over the pot size if our opponent is free to bet any amount on subsequent actions? barrel , we are uncapped.
Consequently, the only true control we have over the size of the pot occurs when we are able to either make a bet or check back when we're last to act on the river. expected value The Contemporary Perspective on Pot Control in Poker
Even in instances where pot control might technically be appropriate, it tends to play a secondary role rather than being the primary driver behind our decisions. Let's review a few examples.
UTG folds, MP folds, CO raises to 3bb, BTN folds, SB folds, and BB decides to call.
In such situations, we generally find that betting is a superior choice compared to checking back. This is yet another case where pot control is misunderstood.
“I have only a second pair here; it’s not worth attempting to get value from three streets, so let’s try pot control on the flop.”
6 handed, NLHE
UTG (100bb)
MP (100bb)
CO (100bb) Hero
BTN (100bb)
SB (100bb)
BB (100bb)
Hero is dealt AdTd
Adopting a pot control strategy here is likely to lead to disaster. The board is highly dynamic with multiple draws present, and we cannot afford to give our opponent excessive equity without a fight. A second pair top kicker can extract significant value on this sort of board.
Flop (6.5bb)
JcTc7s
BB checks. Hero?
In most poker games However, suppose we know that our opponent tends to be overly aggressive with check-raises on this style of board. In that case, we might have justification for checking back the flop. The reason could very well be that the EV of checking outweighs that of betting—since betting could provoke a check-raise, forcing us off our hand.
In this case, we do not rely on pot control as the basis for our decision-making.
This scenario comes as close as we get to a genuine application of pot control, known as a 'way-ahead, way-behind' situation. Given the
characteristics of the board, our opponent may either dominate us with a better Ace or set, or they could be drawing thin with something like 77.
In this situation, we can effectively check and aim for two streets of value on the turn and river. This does represent a form of pot control—yet once more, we don't really need the idea of Pot Control to clarify why we choose to check on the flop.
6 handed, NLHE
UTG (100bb)
equity
What Is Pot Control in Poker?
poker hands
6 handed, NLHE
UTG (100bb)
MP (100bb)
Adopting a pot control strategy here is likely to lead to disaster. The board is highly dynamic with multiple draws present, and we cannot afford to give our opponent excessive equity without a fight. A second pair top kicker can extract significant value on this sort of board.
CO (100bb)
BTN (100bb) Hero SB (100bb)BB (100bb)
Hero is dealt
We want to appear weak by checking the flop, which can subsequently increase the odds that our opponent will attempt to bluff on the turn and river. Kh We want to also convey weakness with a flop check, raising the likelihood that our opponent will call on the turn and river with inferior hands.
Our hand merits value for only two streets, and the board is dry enough that we’re comfortable providing a
- Placing a bet that’s too large or pursuing too many streets might isolate us against the segment of our opponent's range that is currently 'way ahead.'
- Even in this instance, betting on the flop is often the correct play. Perhaps our opponent tends to call wide on flops or they possess a propensity for floating. Particularly in lower-stakes games, we can adopt a straightforward approach. We can make a value bet simply because we hold a top pair, and our opponents are often willing to call with lesser hands.
- The Drawbacks of Passive Play in Your Poker Strategy Ks .
- The fundamental principle is that aggression leads to profitability. Thus, we require a compelling rationale to choose a passive option instead of pursuing a more aggressive strategy. It might feel somewhat unsettling to be told that instead of honing in on our pot control skills, we should focus less on that aspect.
Although it might seem unconventional advice at first since pot control is a widely accepted concept among players, developing a vital skill as poker enthusiasts involves questioning everything , no matter the source. The moment we start to critically examine the concept of pot control, it begins to lose its credibility. Flop (6.5bb) Chad Holloway, a winner of a WSOP bracelet in 2013, previously served as a managing editor and live reporter for PokerNews.
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